Origin: Egypt. Hibiscus is a native of Africa & relative of okra. It's much used in the Middle East, Mexico & the Caribbean, sometimes fresh, sometimes dried & infused to make drinks, sometime rehydrated & cooked with other ingredients. The wonderful red color is attributable to high levels of anthocyanin compounds. Hibiscus is a remarkably rich source of vitamin C & phenolic antioxidants. Here at Oasis Bakery, we use hibiscus to make a herbal tea infusion that is wonderfully tart & aromatic. We also incorporate it as one of many ingredients in our ras el hanout spice blend